Dr. Gafia's Fan Terms

by rich brown

Fancy III this isn't, but it's a pretty good list of fan terms. It started out someone else's list -- Katie Rathslag at Rathslag/rathslag@research.inland.com had posted them to rec.arts.sf.fandom for a number of years -- but I, rich brown,
picked them up, revising a few on which errors had been made, then sat back waiting to see if another version might appear. One didn't and now people are sending suggestions and comments on to me (rich brown) at
drgafia@comcast.net These suggestions are welcome and, when and if I agree with them and think it's a good idea, they are incorporated when I make and post my irregular additions and revisions to this
list. To the best of my ability, I'm including only terms that were coined and used in sf convention and fanzine fandom or net terms that have won acceptance by the people active in those areas. Specifically deliberately excluded are (1) terms that
come from sf rather than the community of fandom and (2) "net" language except where it is relevant to "fan" language. Quibble with me if you disagree; I've been known to change my mind from time to time. Hey, if I didn't, there'd be no need to
revise and repost them, would there?

It got too tedious, after a while, to list multiple credits on each fan term for anyone who made any suggestion that was ultimately implemented, so suffice it to say that I may be the proprietor but am not the sole owner of and/or contributor
to these fan terms – they are “my” fan terms in name only. Some egoboo credit must be given, however, since so many fans have made substantial direct and indirect contributions in providing new material, making changes and/or corrections, writing
from their areas of special expertice, &c. I’m not sure if I’ve kept track of them all, so I have to say they include but may not be limited to Richard Brandt, Seth Breidbart, Ned Brooks, Richard Graeme Cameron, Chris Croughton, Ruth R. Davidson,
Steven J. Dunn, Dick Eney, Gary Farber, Roxanne Gibbs, Lee Gold, Rob Hansen, Arnie Katz, Dave Langford, Nancy Leibowitz, Morris M. Keesan, max, Tom Perry, Cecil Rose, Dick & Leah Zeldes Smith, Jack Spear, Jon Swartz, Geri Sullivan, Alan Swain, Shelby
Vick, Jack Weaver and Ted White. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

It should perhaps be noted that many of the fannish organizations listed in these fan terms continue to thrive today and quite a number of them have web pages of their own. A simple Google search on their names or acronyms should provide those
who may be interested with contact information.

Updated June 26, 2006. If you have a comment or question about the content of these Web pages please send a note to
rich brown. Comments or questions about the pages themselves should be sent to the
Fanac Webmaster. Thank you.